Canada grants 3,463 asylum claims to Nigerians in 2025, over 21,000 pending Report
Canada Approves Thousands of Asylum Applications from Nigerians in 2025
Canada’s Immigration and Refugee Board (IRB) reported on February 13 that it approved 3,463 asylum applications from Nigerian nationals in 2025. At the end of the year, 21,573 claims remained unresolved.
The updated data reveals that Nigerians filed 6,765 asylum claims during the year. Out of these, 3,463 were approved, 1,377 were refused, 46 were abandoned, and 153 were withdrawn or classified under other outcomes, resulting in a total of 5,039 concluded cases. The approval rate of approximately 68 percent marks an increase from previous years; in 2024, 2,230 out of 16,267 claims were granted.
This influx positioned Nigeria among the top countries of origin for asylum seekers in Canada for 2025, alongside India, Haiti, Iran, and Mexico.
According to Canadian regulations, the Refugee Protection Division grants asylum to individuals who meet the criteria set forth in the 1951 United Nations Refugee Convention. Applicants must demonstrate a credible fear of persecution based on factors such as race, religion, nationality, membership in a social group, or political opinion, or show a risk of torture or inhumane treatment if returned to their home country.
The IRB noted that asylum requests can be submitted at designated entry points, such as airports and land borders, or from within Canada. Each claim undergoes an eligibility assessment by officials from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada or the Canada Border Services Agency before being referred to the board for further evaluation.
“All eligible claims are determined by the IRB based on the evidence and arguments presented, in accordance with Canadian laws,” the board stated. Applicants must demonstrate a well-founded fear of persecution or serious harm in their country of origin.
Successful applicants receive protected status and may apply for permanent residency, while those whose claims are denied risk removal proceedings.
In total, Canada processed 107,802 asylum claims from all nationalities in 2025. Of these, 50,067 cases were concluded, with 14,619 approved and 7,944 rejected. The IRB highlighted a sustained increase in asylum applications in recent years due to global instability, conflicts, and rising displacement. Notably, a 64 percent decline in new claims occurred between January and February 2026 compared to the same period in 2024.
Provinces such as Quebec, Ontario, Alberta, and British Columbia remain the primary destinations for the highest numbers of asylum seekers in Canada.
